AGRICULTURAI, SEEDS 110.5 



As will be seen, Thule I represents a combination superior as regards 

 characteis to that of each of the parents. In productivity (3943 lbs. per 

 acre) it is nearly equal to the " Pudel " (3930 lbs per acre), but is con- 

 siderably superior to it in earliness and cold resistance, as was ascertained 

 particularly during the winter of 1912-1913, when the sowings were very 

 much injured by the low temperatures. 



Thule II, resulting from the same cross and isolated by the writer at 

 vSvalof , is still earlier. It is as early as the native type and is more productive 

 than Thule I. These two kinds are distinguished from the native vSwedish 

 variety by their high resistance to rust. There is consequently no doubt 

 that the Thule wheat is superior to all others hitherto tested in Svealand, 

 where it may be introduced with the certainty of success. 



As regards improvement of the native varieties by direct selection, the 

 pure line (^750 (of Latorpshvete) from vSvalof was cultivated for 3 years at 

 Ultuna. It is distinguished by its higher cropping power, and could perhaps 

 furnish good material for crosses. 



Although the Thule wheat is very resistant to cold, it still remains infe- 

 rior to the native types ; it must therefore be improved in this direction. 

 With this object from 191 3 onwards, a series of hybridisation trials were 

 undertaken of Thule I and Thule II with the Swedish native wheat ; the 

 preliminary results hitherto obtained fully justify the method adopted 

 and hold oiit the best prospects. 



S58 - Experiments on the Germination Capacity of Beet Seeds in Bohemia. — i. urban j. 



and YiTEK E., Influence of very low temperatures on the germintitiou capacity of beet 

 seeds, in Zeitschrijt fiir Zuckeiinduslrie in Bohmen, 40th year, No. 7, pp 29-300, tables. 

 Prague, April 1916. — II. V^itek E., Investigations on the mode of determining the 

 germinating capacitj^ in beet seed. Ibid. Xo. 8, pp. 363-381, tables. May iyi6. 



I. — Influence oj low temperature on the germination capacity. In a 

 first experiment, ion grms of thoroughly ripe dried seeds were divided into 2 

 groups, one of which was exposed for half an hour to the low temperature 

 produced by liquid air allowed to evaporate spontaneously. 



In the 2 groups of seeds, the germination capacity was next ascertained 

 by placing them on blotting paper in a thermostat with a temperature varying 

 from 20 to 300 C. 



As early as 3 days later, it was found that the vitality of the seeds stib- 

 jected previously to a temperature of — 180^ C. had not diminished. Fifteen 

 days later, 95 per cent of the non-frozen fruits and 96 per cent of the fruits 

 exposed to the liquid air had germinated. It is evident from this experi- 

 ment that the strongest frosts do not impair the germination capacity 

 of seeds with normal water content. 



In a 2nd experiment, the object was to study the behaviour of seeds 

 harvested in wet weather. For this piurpose 4 samples of seeds were used 

 containing about 20 per cent of water when harvested. The seeds of each 

 of the samples were divided into 3 groups equal in weight and volume, each 

 containing 100 fruits, and for each sample one of these groups was placed 

 in liquid air; 3 groups remained in it for 2 hours, and one grou]) from () to 

 72 hours. 



